Film developing cage



- March 21, 1944.

E. P. M M URTRY FILM DEVELOPING CAGE Filed June 9. 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1ma l-m N.

March 1944- E. P. MOMURTRY 2,344,710

FILM DEVELOPING CAGE Filed June 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f T L i F T 7m; g :1

WWMV/ Patented Mar. 21, 1944 a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FILMDEVELOPING CAGE Edward P. McMurtry, san Marino, Calif.

Application June 9, 1941, Serial No. 397,156

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a film developing cage used for holding aplurality of films in means and the exposed portion of the film. The

supporting means further pfovides for holding the film against bucklingduring developing operations and permits the expansion of the film.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a film developingcage which may be readily loaded in darkness.

The film developing cage of the present invention includes meansprovided with a plurality of notches or slots for holding film to bedeveloped by the four edges thereof and combines therewith a specialloading means by which the Figure l.

film may be successively guided into the respec- 7 tive holdingpositions without danger of harming the film in operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a filmdeveloping cage constructed and arranged to be readily adjusted in orderto accommodate any of the common film sizes, and including means bywhich adjustments may be made not only to accommodate all of the commonsize fiat type of film but also all of the common size film packtype offilm.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a filmdeveloping cage with proper shaped notches and slots for holding thefilm from the edge, which notches or slots are specially designed to beeffective for holding either the common fiat film or the pack type offilm.

The film developing cage of the present invention, together with variousadditional objects and advantages thereof, will be more completelyunderstood from a description of a preferred form or example of adeveloping cage embodying the invention. For this purpose, I havehere-.- inafter described a preferred form or example of a nundeveloping cage embodying the invention, the description being given inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aperspective view of the cage showing the loading means in position.

Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-4 of Figure 7.

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the cage per se. showing the adjustinggroove arrangement.

Figure 4 is an elevation of one of the false side members.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary rear view of the false side member.

Figure 6 ma section on the line 8-5 of Figure 5.

Figure 7* is a plan view of the cage with the 7 with the loading meanspartially removed and the supplementary top partially in position.

Figure 10 is a section on the line I 0-10 of Figure 11 is a section online H--|l of Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings, the cage comprises a rectangular frame,consisting of two complementary side members 2 and 3 and two partial endmembers 4 and 5. As viewed in Figures 1 and 3, for example, the endmember 4 extends from near the bottom of the side member 2 upwardlysomewhat over half the height of the cage, while the end member 5extends from near the upper end of the cage downwardly somewhat overhalf the height of the cage.

In order to 'fit the size of the cage to the different film to bedeveloped, the film supporting means of the cage are provided by falsebottom members 6 and false side members 1. members 2 and 3 of the cageare provided with a novel form of supporting means for such false bottommembers 6 and false side members I.

Each of the side members 2 and! is provided below the bottom of the endmember 5 with a plurality of horizontal grooves 8, which are spacedapart at irregular intervals, the spacings of such grooves from the topof the cage being made to accommodate, for example, the four differentheights of the film pack type of film. The bottom members 6 (of whichthere are two) are provided at their ends with tongues 9 adapted tointerfit with the grooves 8, so that such bottom members may be slidablysupported by any one of the grooves} and thereby be positioned atdifferent desired adjusted heights within the cage.

Two bottom members i are provided since the width of the cage as well asthe height are altered in operation. Thus, for example, when the largersizes of film are. being developed, such as necessitate the insertion ofthe bottom members The side 6 in the lower three grooves, as shown inFigure 1, both bottom members are employed, but in the use of theapparatus for developing the smaller type of film only one of the bottommembers is inserted in the upper of the grooves 8, which is ofrelatively short length. Each of the bottom members provides a pluralityof V-shaped notches Ill for holding the lower edge of the film to bedeveloped.

In order to provide for adjusting the position of the bottoms of thecage properly for developing also the various different lengths of theflat type film, a further series of horizontal grooves II is provided inthe side members 2 and 3 of the frame of the cage, such horizontalgrooves being disposed above the member 4, as viewed in Figure 3.Because of the many different variations in the size of film on themarket, adjustments in the height of the bottom required to accommodatethe fiat type of film would interfere with the adjustments desired foraccommodating a device to the different sizes of the film pack type offilm, as such adjustments are all made from one end of the cage. Inorder to overcome this difiiculty, 1 make the frame of the cagereversible; that is to say, the frame as'viewed 'in Figures 1 and 3 isturned upside downwhen it is desired to accommodate the different fiattypes of film. Thereupon, the members 6 are inserted in the series ofhorizontal grooves II at a correct spacing for the height of the film tobe developed. It is to be noted that the spacings between the grooves IIare not regular but should be made to conform with the 'diflerentstandard heights of the fiat type film to be developed.

The side members 2 and 3 of the frame are further indicated as providedwith two series of vertical grooves l2 and is for receiving in ad-Justed position the false side members I of the cage; one of such seriesof vertical grooves is being for the adjustment of the position of oneof the side members I when the cage is in the position indicated inFigures 1 and 3, and the other series of vertical grooves I2 being foradjusting the position of one of the side members when the cage is inthe reversed position. The side members I are provided with tongues it,which tongues are adapted to slidably fit within the grooves I! or It,and at the end of the tongues there are provided stop shoulders IS. Thevertical grooves i2 and ii are enlarged as indicated at II at the endsof the side members in order that the side members I may be lowered intothe grooves I! or it until the upper edges of said side members I areflush with the upper edges of the side members 2 and 3, in which casethe stop shoulders I! of the side members I fit within the enlargementit.

In the use of the cage, when the cage is in the position shown inFigures 1 and 3, one of the false side members 1 is inserted in theright hand groove I! with its grooves l1 facing inwardly. The other sidemember I is inserted in the correct vertical groove ii to accommodatethe width of the film to be handled. When'the cage is turned upside downto accommodate the flat type of film, one of the side members isinserted in the groove is most nearly adjacent the side 4, and the otherfalse side member 1 is inserted in the correct groove ii to accommodatethe proper width of the fiat film to be developed.

By the means thus described, I have provided for an accurate adjustmentof the height and width of the film which will be received in the cage.and by the expedient of making the case reversible have provided for twoseries of adjustments of both height and width, without such adjustmentsinterfering one with the other.

The false bottom members 6 and side members i, when considered inconnection with the particular form of notches provided thereby and thespecial means for accurately adjusting the width and height of the cage,provide a means by which the film to be developed may be properly heldin the cage without danger of the film or any portion thereof beingmarred and without binding the film. There are at present two differenttypes of film on the market, and the case of the present invention isdesigned to properly hold both types of film in developing operations.The so-called film pack type of film has a comparatively wide margin ofunexposed film, so that there is little danger of marring the exposedportion of the film from handling the film by its edges. .Such film has,however, a relativel thin back and a relatively large tendency to sag orbuckle when set by a developing solution. The fiat type film has a verynarrow margin and it is thus readily possible to mar the exposed portionof the film in handling the film by its edges, although the film has astiffer base and less tendency to sag or buckle when in use. In order toso construct and arrange the cage as to properly accommodate both typesof film, I provide the bottom members 6 of the cage with V-type notchesi0, which will substantially prevent any contact between the sides ofthe him and the sides of the notches. The notches of the side members Iare preferably in the form of a Y- that is to say, the notches consistof a V shaped segment 11 followed by a straight-walled section l8. Indetermining the separation of the two side members from each other,where the cage is adapted to handle the flat type of film, I fix thespacings between the side members 1, so that the sides of the film donot extend into the straight notches is but will only extend into theV-shaped sections ll of the notches, so that no contact will take placebetween the supporting means and the exposed portion of the flat typefilm. Such fiat type film has suflicient resistance to buckling to besatisfactorily held in this manner.

When developing the film pack type of film. which has a greater tendencyto buckle, I design spacings between the side members 1 so that theedges of the film pack type of film will extend into the straightportions it of the notches l'l to thereby be better supported againstbuckling. In fact, it is preferable to extend the film pack type of filmas far as possible into the notches, leaving only sufilcient space forthe expansion of the film upon contact with the developing solution.

The side members 2 and 3 are provided ad- Jacent the top and bottom withgrooves I! for supporting the top of the cage, one of the grooves I!being used in each of the reverse positions of the cage. The top 20employed during developing operations, as indicated in Figures 9 and 11,is provided with tongues 2| for slidably fitting within the grooves isof the side members. The

4 top 20 is further provided with Y-shaped notches 22 for receiving thetop edges of the film to be developed. When the cage is to be used todevelop the flat type of film, the spacings of the bottom members 6should be such as to bring the top edges of the flat type film only inthe V portion of the notches 22, whereas when using the cage to developthe film pack type of film the spacof the bottom should be such as tocause the top edges of the film to extend into the flat portion 23 ofthe notches in the top 20. Preferably, thetop is provided with aplurality of slots 24 cut from its upper face through to meet theY-shaped notches 22 in order to provide the top with a plurality ofopenings for circulation of air and gas through the cage. The bottoms 6also may be provided with such slots 25 in order to permit circulationof developing solution through the bottom of the cage. s

In order to facilitate loading of the cage in the dark and also in orderto serve the further purpose of permitting loading through a means whichis carefully kept separate from any contact with the developingsolution, I provide a special loading top, as indicated in Figures 1, 2,3, 8 and 9. Said loading top consists of a lower member 26 havingtongues 21, by means of which the same may slidably engage the grooves!9 of the cage in substitution for the top 20, shoulders 28 beingprovided for stopping the movement of the member 26. The member 26consists of two rails 29 and 30, between which extends a plurality ofbars 3|, which between them form loading slots for the insertion of thefilm into the cage. The rail 29 is provided with a plurality of recesses32 corresponding in number to the number of filmreceiving notches of thecage. The loading means at the top also includes an'upper member 33,which has an enlarged portion 34 to fit between the rails 29 and 30 ofthe lower member 28 of the loading means, and is provided with a pin toselectively engage the different recesses 32 of the lower member 26. Theupper member 33 is provided with a loading slot 36, by .means of which afilm may be inserted through the upper mem ber and in turn through oneof the slots in the lower member 26 of the loading means, and thereby heguided properly into position to engage the notches of the bottommembers 6 and side membars 1 of the cage. It will be readily understoodthat by selectively moving the upper member 33 of the loading means tocause selective engagement of its pin 35 with each of the recesses 32,

the loading top may be readily manipulated inthe dark for permittingready loading of the difierent notches of the cage with film.

When the film is loaded into the cage by the loading top the upper edgesof the film will be partially retained in the lower member of theloading means in the manner indicated in Fi ure 2, and thereby the filmwill be held from buckling until the loading means can be removed andthe regular top employed in the de-' veloping operations substitutedtherefor. Figure 9 of the drawings indicates the manner in which theloading means is slid off the cage while the regular top 23 issimultaneously slid into position on the cage; the loading meansretaining the film in position until the same can be properly engagedwith the notches 22 of the top 20-.

While the particular form of developing cage herein described is welladapted to carry out the objects of the present invention, it is to beunderstood that various modifications may be made and the presentinvention includes all such modifications and changes as come within thescope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A film developing cage, including a box-like member for holding aplurality of films spaced apart and including notches engageable withthe side andbottom edges of the film, and a detachable loading topincluding a lower member provided with a plurality of slots throughwhich the fllmmay be passed in loading operations and a top memberhaving a loading slot, a selective locking means between said upper andlower member for selectively locking the upper and lower members inposition for registering the slot of the upper member with the slots of:the lower member in film-loading operations, there being a sliding fitbetween the box-like member and lower member of the top. w

2. A film-holding cage, comprising a box-like member having permanentsid member and end members, the side membersbeing provided with a set ofhorizontal and a set of vertical grooves, one end member terminatingabove the horizontal grooves of the side members, a'false bottom memberselectively engageable with said horizontal grooves for varying thedepth of the film-receiving space of said cage, and a false side memberselectively engageable with said vertical grooves for varying the widthof the filmreceiving base of said box member, said false members havingcooperating film-receiving notches.

3. A film developin cage, comprising a frame including side membershaving one set of horizontal grooves extending from one edge inwardlyand another set of horizontal grooves extending from the opposite edginwardly and spaced from the first-mentioned set of horizontal grooves,said side members also having one set of vertical grooves extending fromthe top edge downwardly and another set of vertical grooves extendingfrom the bottom edge upwardly, said sets being spaced from each other, amember selectively engageable with said horizontal grooves fordetermining the height of the film receiving space of said frame and amember selectively engageable vwith said vertical grooves fordetermining the width of the film-receiving space of said frame, saidmembers having notches for holding the film from the edges thereof.

4. A film developing cage, comprisin a frame including side membershaving one set of horizontal grooves extending from one edge inwardlyand another set of horizontal grooves extending from the opposite edgeinwardly and spaced from the first-mentioned set of horizontal grooves,said side members also having one set of vertical grooves extending fromthe top edge downwardly and another set of vertical grooves extendingfrom the bottom edge upwardly, said sets being spaced from each other, amember selectively engageable with said horizontal grooves fordetermining the height of the film-receiving space of said frame and amember selectively engageable with said vertical grooves for determiningthe width of the film-receiving space of said frame, said members havingnotches for holding the film from the edges thereof, and a top memberslidably engageable with said frame and provided with slots throughwhich the film may be inserted and by which the film may be guided intoproper engagement with the notches of said members.

5. A film developing cage, comprising a frame including side membershaving two sets of horizontal grooves and two sets of vertical groovesfor operation in reverse positions,- a member selectively engageablewith said horizontal grooves for determining the height of thefilm-receiving space of said frame and a member selectively engageablewith said vertical grooves for determining the width of thefilm-receiving space of said frame, said members having notches forholding the film from the edges thereof, a top member slidablyengageable with-said frame and provided with slots through which thefilm may be inserted and by which the film may be guided into properengagement with the notches of said members, and a supplemental topmember having a loading slot and being selectively movable intoengagement with said first-mentioned top member for registration of itsloading slot successively with the slots 01' said first-mentioned topmember. 1

6. A film developing cage, including a, frame, side and bottom membershaving cooperating fllm engaging notches and means for moving saidmembers to vary the size of film to be received in said cage, loadingmeans tor said cage including a detachable loading top having slotscorre-- sponding to the notches of said members and having a relativelymovable member having a loading slot, and means for causing said loadingslot to be selectively registered with said firstmentioned slots.

7. A fllm developing cage, including a frame, side and bottom membershaving cooperating film engaging notches and means for moving saidmembers to vary the size of him to be received in said cage. loadingmeans for said cage including a detachable loading top having slotscorresponding to the notches of said members and having a relativelymovable member having a loading slot, and means for causing said loadingslot to be selectively registered with said firstmentioned slots, saidloading top being removable in film developing operations.v

8. A film developing cage, comprising a film housing including notchesengageable with the side and bottom edges 0! a film, a detachable topmember slidably engageable with said housing member andprovided withbars forming slots aligning in the operating position with the notchesof said housing member so that film may be inserted through said slotsand guided into proper engagement with the notches of said housing, anda supplemental top member having a loading slot and being selectivelymovable relative to said first-mentioned top member -ior registration 01its loading slot successively with the slots between the bars oi saidfirst-mentioned top member.

EDWARD P. MCMURTRY.

